SENIOR ADVISOR

Peter Kreisky works directly with CEOs and their senior management teams as a Senior Advisor, Advisory Board member and transformation coach, focused on strategy, digital evolution and business transformation.

• Leading South American Media Company:  From 2011 to 2016, Kreisky worked closely with the  Chairman, CEO, shareholders, and senior management of Abril Midia, the second largest media company in Brazil. Over a critical five-year period, he brought true value as its trusted eyes and ears into the emerging digital world, covering and reporting on digital developments in North America and Europe. At the same time, he assisted Abril with the digital evolution and transformation of the company from an enormously successful traditional publisher into the modern era. Through a combination of regular face-to-face meetings on-site, monthly videoconference calls, and briefings on notable and critical issues, he met and interacted regularly with the management team.  He gave specific strategic advice and provided a trusted sounding board for management. In addition, he opened high-level doors and organized high-value meetings with industry leaders, innovators, and potential business partners to explore strategic opportunities, partnerships, collaborations and investments.  He also undertook specific, confidential, adhoc projects for the CEO, providing a trusted, independent perspective on matters of critical importance.
• U.S. Magazine Industry Leader. Kreisky joined Time Inc., the U.S.’s largest magazine publisher as Senior Advisor to the incoming CEO. In this role, he had overview responsibility for the company’s strategy, particularly its entry into the rapidly emerging digital world.He was the trusted confidential advisor, thought-partner and change agent to the CEO, playing a valued role in day-to-day decisions, negotiations, and planning 24/7.  He provided thought leadership to strategy at corporate, business unit and brand levels, working as a resource and strategy thought-partner to members of the management team. He actively participated in management discussions, and in guiding significant new initiatives, e.g., digital strategy, international strategy, brand extensions into new digital, video and experiential platforms, TV and video strategy, corporate rebranding, innovation center, potential acquisitions and portfolio realignment. He oversaw all corporate relationships with outside consultancies. It was his role to stay current on technology, industry trends, competition and strategic thinking, and share such intelligence.
• World’s Leading Medical Journal. For ten years, Kreisky was an Advisor to The New England Journal of Medicine, published by the Massachusetts Medical Society. During this period, he played a significant role advising the world’s leading medical journal, originally published weekly in a print-only format on its strategic transformation to its current digital, multiplatform business model.
• Global Management Consulting Firm. Kreisky was recruited by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), considered one of the world’s most prestigious management consulting firms, as Senior Advisor to the managing partner of its Media & Entertainment Practice. In this role, he recruited new clients for BCG in North America and Europe, generated new business, and provided his expertise and insights to BCG teams. In addition, he was called upon to share trusted independent insights and perspectives to senior members of the BCG partner group.

STRATEGY AND INNOVATION

Strategy and Innovation have been the core of Peter Kreisky’s practice for more than three decades, serving scores of clients on hundred of assignments across the media and entertainment sector.

Within the media and entertainment industry, Peter focuses predominantly on publishing in all its forms: magazines, newspapers, books, journals, smartphone, tablets, digital video, the web, as well as on television, movies, music, education, information, and advertising.

He has advised clients in these sectors across a wide variety of growth strategy assignments, including digital transformation, brand strategy, portfolio strategy, organization design, advertising strategy, circulation strategy, new business development. He has worked in news across print, television, radio and Internet.

As necessary, Kreisky can assemble a team of world-class of experts for any strategy or business development project, drawing on his worldwide network of independent specialists and experts.

Recent strategy and innovation projects include:

• Digital Entry Strategy for leading international fashion brand. Developed the U.S entry strategy for a leading international fashion magazine brand, published by a major European publisher today in 24 countries. Strategy included digital, print, commerce and experiential components.
• Digital Entry Strategy for Second Screen TV Viewing App. Developed the U.S. entry strategy for Europe’s leading online and digital television viewing guide, published in a half-dozen countries by a leading European publisher. Strategy examined digital market opportunities, current and future competition and potential M&A / Joint Venture possibilities.
• Mission and Strategy for Media Industry Association. Developed the new mission, strategy, organization structure and identity for MPA, the trade association of U.S. magazine publishers. Facing an identity crisis and budgetary pressure resulting from the meltdown in U.S. magazine industry, we interviewed the Board, surveyed members and interviewed/analyzed several trade associations for their best practices. The result was a new mission statement, a cogent strategy, a newly focused organization and a new identity for the association and the industry: “Magazine Media”.
• Digital Strategy for Leading Fashion Industry B2B Brand. Developed comprehensive international digital strategy for the “bible” of the worldwide fashion industry.
• Leading Magazine Fulfillment and Distribution Services Company: Strategic and Operational Assessment
• Corporate Strategy for one of Top 4 U.S. Magazine Publishers: Developed growth strategy to get company out of  limited growth situation through focused acquisitions and organic diversification.
• Potential Merger of Publishing Distribution Companies: Conducted detailed assessment of potential benefits and costs of merger between magazine industry distribution leaders.
• English as a Second Language (ESL): Developed of entry strategy for major global publisher in the rapidly growing English as a Second Language (ESL) market.
• Leading Multi-System Cable Operator: Assessed local market-driven growth opportunities for one the leading U.S. cable systems.
• Leading U.S. Television Magazine: Developed strategy for redesign, repositioning and relaunch of the world’s largest TV magazine.
• World’s leading coffee company: Assessed and refined strategy for launch of music service by major coffee retailer.
• JV between Cable TV network and major publisher: Provided strategy and negotiation support for JV between Cable TV network and major publisher to launch new food magazine.
• International Strategy for Major Global Newsweekly: Developed strategy for “third leg” in premium services for its global customer base.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOR EMERGING COMPANIES

Kreisky Media provides business development for companies competing in the media space. We leverage our extensive network of contacts at a senior level across traditional and digital sectors, internationally. Our clients include early-stage start-ups, established internet companies and traditional publishers seeking to gain an edge through our knowledge and connections, e.g.,

• Enterprise Software Services Company. For a fast-growing enterprise software company, advised on strategy for the media vertical and set up high value meetings with C-level decision makers at >30 media companies in North America and Europe. Client designs and sells powerful SaaS applications for companies with a subscription business model, designed to automate billing, commerce, and finance.
• User-generated Video Start-up. For an early stage startup with unique, user-generated sports video app and aggregation platform, made introductions with CEOs, CDOs and CMOs of prospective partners/investors.
• Advanced Image Recognition Technology Start-up. For venture capital partner, established “proof of viability” in media space for advanced image recognition technology emerging from government research lab. Successfully established basis for early stage funding. Recruited CEO.
• Emerging Software/Services Vendors. For several emerging software and services startups targeting media companies, opened doors to C-Level decision-makers, prospects and potential investors
• Eastern Europe-based Branded TV Channel. Kreisky found business partners for a local media entrepreneur with whom to develop, finance and launch a franchised 24-hour rolling news channel in a developing region of Eastern Europe. The new channel launched in 2013.

DIGITAL-FIRST TRANSFORMATION AND CULTURE CHANGE

For more than a decade, Kreisky Media has focused on the strategic transformation of traditional publishing companies to compete effectively in the digital age.

Reflecting this, Peter Kreisky has been working with clients on their strategies, new business models and organizational changes and conducting innovation and transformation workshops around the globe.

Competing effectively in the digital-first world is the objective. Not only must new business models be adopted, but focused culture change must be initiated – and sustained – to support the new realities.

Peter Kreisky has developed a process of audits, seminars and workshops based on original research conducted for FIPP that provides unique insights into culture change and the best practices of magazine media companies in 10 countries.

Please contact Peter for more details.

SPEECHES & SEMINARS

Peter Kreisky is a an internationally respected thought leader and is much in demand as a keynote speaker. He also designs, develops and delivers custom client seminars and workshops focused on strategy and innovation, digital transformation and the development of specific strategies and action plans.

Selected Keynote Speeches

• FIPP Asia Pacific – Singapore, September 2016
• FIPP London – London, May 2016
• FIPP Middle East & Africa – Dubai, February 2016
• Association of Spanish Publishers Annual Conference – Madrid 2015
• Idealliance: Going Mobile Conference – New York 2015
• FIPP World Magazine Congress
  • Toronto 2015
  • Rome 2013
  • New Delhi 2011
  • New York 2005
• FIPP Ibero-Americas Congress
  • Sao Paulo 2014
  • Costa Rica 2012
• ANER Brazilian Magazine Association Annual Conference – Sao Paulo 2013
• Indian Magazine Congress – Mumbai 2013
• “Changing Media” Conference – London 2013
• MPA American Magazine Conference – 2004, 2008, 2010
• MPA Retail Conference – 1999, 2000
• Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishing Conference – Amsterdam
• Book Business Convergence Conference – New York 2006

Custom Client Seminars and Workshops

Kreisky has designed, developed and delivered numerous single-client conferences in U.S., UK, China, Russia, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Colombia, Sweden.

Download Selected Speeches

MEDIA M&A ADVISORY

Kreisky Media originates, develops and evaluates merger and acquisition opportunities, carve-outs and roll-ups working with venture capital firms, investment banks, and funds.

Examples include:

• Acquisition of Newsweekly Magazine. Strategic assessment and Due Diligence of leading newsweekly magazine for VC bidders
• Acquisition of Leading Special Interest Publisher. Strategic Assessment and Due Diligence of large multi-title publisher of special interest magazines for eventual acquiror
• Asset Carve-Out. Identification and assessment of opportunity to carve-out attractive-as-standalone assets of failing media company.

PUBLISHING PARTNERSHIPS

We also build and manage publishing partnerships for traditional publishers to provide growth outside their core. We develop strategy blueprints and business models for print and digital publishing across platforms, including branded bookazines, print magazines and digital editions, digital magazines, branded smartphone and tablet apps, responsive websites, e-commerce, podcasts, e-books, coffee-table books, etc.

Clive Irving, Editorial Director/Creative Partner

Clive Irving is the Editorial Director/Creative Partner of Kreisky Media Ventures. Clive has had a distinguished career encompassing 35 years of experience in magazine, television, newspaper and digital media development, creating and steering new and existing properties in U.S. and Europe. He splits his time between London and New York.